Avoid Getting Sick In The Cold Months By Boosting Your Immune System

Summer Versus Winter

In the summer people spend a lot of time outside and they are active. People are walking, biking, running, swimming, playing sports, etc. They are also wearing very little clothing. The lack of clothing encourages people to workout so their bodies look good. With the fun activities and the workouts most people are in good shape both mentally and physically during the hot summer months. They build muscle, lose fat, have a lot of fun and feel good.

During the winter people spend more time inside and they wear more clothes. There is not a lot to do inside and the extra clothing hides their body. So they are less likely to workout or get exercise while doing something fun. As a result they spend more time sitting around and more time consuming junk foods and drinks. They lose muscle, gain fat, have less energy and often don't feel very well.

There are some people that are active in warm and cold weather and some people like to stay inside no matter how nice it is outside. However most people are more active and get more fresh air in the warm months than they do in the cold ones.

Immune System

A lack of good quality sleep can impair your immune system. So can stress, negative emotions, negative thoughts, poor circulation, poor eating habits, excessive fat, dehydration, intense exercise and not sweating on a regular basis. Sweat is good for you. It cleanses your body. Since germs and viruses can spread you are more likely to catch something if you are in a confined space where other people have touched things and contaminated the air.

When the weather gets colder people change their habits. Their new habits leave them more vulnerable. It also increases the number of threats to you. You are going to come in contact with more sick people and more of their germs and viruses. Moderate exercise can give your immune system a boost. It can improve the quality of your sleep, reduce stress, improve your eating habits, cause you to sweat, improve your mood, improve blood circulation and reduce fat. If you get some of that exercise outside the odds of catching something are reduced even more.

When you let your body go you are also letting your immune system go. Take better care of yourself and spend time outside to avoid getting sick. Act like it is beach season and you want to look good.

Hiking in the woods. | Source

Weights | Source

Woman doing yoga with the Wii. | Source

Woman meditating | Source

Healthy Cold Weather Habits

When the weather gets cold people stop going to the beach. They also stop doing a lot of other things. The habits they give up are replaced with new habits. Usually these new habits are passive. A habit like biking is replaced with passively watching TV or passively playing games. However you can replace your warm weather habits with healthy cold weather habits.

You can workout inside. I often workout while I watch TV. It is not as enjoyable as biking to the beach but it provides me with exercise. Lifting weights, body weight exercises and a variety of cardio exercises can be done within a small area of your home. There are also motion controlled video games. Playing them can provide you with some exercise and it is fun. In the winter I like to play Wii sports games. Meditation has a lot of health benefits. You can do it while sitting in front of your computer. Listening to meditation music makes it easier.

Even though it is cold out you can still go for hikes outside. Hiking is often better when it is cold outside. When there is snow you can ski, snowboard or skate. I don't do a lot of skiing but I do a lot of hiking during the winter. You should try to make sure you sweat. Allow yourself to get hot. It is also a good idea keep clean.

Wash frequently, keep your house clean and encourage other people to wash their hands. Just don't go overboard on the cleaning products and medicines or you could accidentally weaken your immune system.